American Cancer-Root (Conopholis americana)
We took a walk at Meadowside this afternoon, starting at the nature center and walking down to and along the creek, going as far upstream as where it goes under Muncaster Mill Road. We heard (and Cathy glimpsed) a belted kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon but mostly we were looking at plants. There’s was a fair amount in bloom. The bloodroot are all finished but there were a few wild azaleas, which are always a treat. In the woods heading down to the creek a bunch of under-story plants had been labeled with signs but we saw these, which had not. American cancer-root (Conopholis americana) is a non-photosynthesizing, parasitic plant, feeding on the roots of oak and beech trees.